Constitution Hall uncovers 1850s-era 'graffiti'

This is the grafitti that was found in Constitution Hall 427-429 S. Kansas Avenue. It is not known who did the grafitti or when it was done. Friends of the Free State Capitol Inc. hope to preserve it and do further analysis on it.

The Statehouse has John Steuart Curry's murals. Constitution Hall in downtown Topeka has "graffiti" more than 150 years old.

On the south wall of the hall's second floor — between an original 1855 door that has been enclosed and another door created in about 1925 — is a graffiti-like illustration of a man, thought to be drawn in ink or paint during the state's territorial or Civil War era.

The man sports a moustache and beard and wears a high-collared shirt or jacket and a forage cap or kepi. He chews on a long stem of grass.

Also, written on the wall is what appears to be "Sgt. G.B." followed by the letter "C."

"We believe it's a name," Thom Rosenblum, a historian with the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, said. "We don't see the (full) last name starting with a 'C' because it's probably on part of the wall removed in the 1910s-1920s."

Also written on the wall is "#T," which is perhaps a reference to the military company in which the man served, Rosenblum said.

The artist is unknown, as well as the motive behind the illustration.

"It's one of those history mysteries," he said.

Chris Meinhardt, a volunteer with Friends of the Free State Capitol Inc., said he and others associated with the restoration and preservation of Constitution Hall have known about the illustration for about 14 years.

In 2003, Meinhardt said, the image was shown to William Seale, White House historian and Statehouse restoration consultant who prepared a historical study and restoration recommendations for Constitution Hall. Two or three years later, its existence was shared with National Park Service officials.

Constitution Hall, 429 S. Kansas Ave., is where 40 elected delegates from across the Kansas Territory met in October 1855 to write the Free State Constitution, also known as the Topeka Constitution. The oldest building in Topeka, the structure served as the state's temporary capitol from 1863 to 1869, before the Legislature and state offices moved into the newly completed east wing of the Statehouse.

"Thom was the first to notice (the illustration's) significance to the building," he said.

The cost of removal, preservation and display of the illustration is estimated to be about $3,500. However, Meinhardt said, the Friends organization doesn't have enough money to do that. He is hoping someone in the community will step up with a donation to preserve the illustration.

Once the Legislature moved to the Statehouse, Constitution Hall reverted back to its owners and served as office space for several businesses and a meeting place for churches and fraternal organizations, Topeka historian Doug Wallace said.

The second floor of the building was "carved into apartments" in about 1910 and served in that capacity for a number of years, he said.

The Constitution Hall preservation project began in 1997, after a demolition permit had been approved for the building, Meinhardt said. The Friends of the Free State Capitol formed in January 1998 and by May 1998 was able to purchase the building using Economic Development Initiative funds appropriated by the 1998 Kansas Legislature and private donations.

In July 2008, Constitution Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in 2001.

Over the years, the west wall of the native stone building has been restored and six replicate windows installed. The floor has been stabilized, and the membrane roof and sheathing have been rejuvenated.

Meinhardt said the next step will be to knock out some partition walls on the second floor, while keeping the columns built during the territorial era.

After that, he said, a $35,000 Heritage Trust Fund grant will be used to pay for a report describing the physical components of the building and making recommendations under standards required by the Secretary of Interior.

Eventually, a vacant lot of the south and west of the building will become a park.

Are there other images hidden within the walls of Constitution Hall that haven't been disclosed as yet?

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spray paint back then. Definitely something that needs to be preserved .. Now that everyone knows about it, I hope you've taken precautions to protect it until you can relocate it someplace more secure.

Quit your yelling, please! Nobody's disagreeing that preservation of this building is important, for ALL of us . Of course, Black historical history should be preserved, right along with the contributions of all the other cultures. I think interesting and perhaps previously unknown information would be welcome, however the "yelling" (all caps) and attention seeking,reactive posts are totally unnecessary.

Constitution Hall needs torn down. Is this honestly the big attraction now? Graffiti? If that is the case, invite some gangs from east Topeka over and they'll increase the graffiti there by 2000% in one night.

Obviously our viewer has not a clue as to the extraordinary artifact Topeka, the Capital City of Kansas is fortunately enough, to have saved.

Experts in the field rate this old building as one of the most important part of our National History that exists. This is NOT Black History. It is AMERICAN HISTORY .

It is said that destroying a Countries History is the best way to control a country .You know that was HITLER and OTHER BARBARIC DICTATORS THEORY-- changing history books and destroying anything that might call to attention the heritage of your country. Any , that might not fit their personal politics.

Please just applaud the efforts,and, as a good citizen do what you can to help.

"preservation and display of the illustration is estimated to be about $3,500. However, Meinhardt said, the Friends organization doesn't have enough money to do that." I can think of at least one reason why!

The House of Hookers has been broke for as long as that graffiti is old! 150 years, 350 million bucks later, and still pouring more dollars into that Money Pit! For all those years, and all that tax money, they still have A leaky roof. A cast iron Native American image that more closely resembles a pedestrian fleeing drivers on McVicar at three minutes to 8 in the morning, and other assorted present day boondoggles like a Statehouse Farmers Market that operates like a Red Chinese commune. Things like that cause me to yearn for a simpler time. A time when Citizen Legislators did more than research Lap Dances and condemn colorful baseball caps as racist.

Lets hope they don't store it in a building with a leaky roof. looks like they might want to leave it right where it is until they figure out where to display it a more permanent venue.. But now that everyone knows about it,, it's at risk where it is now,,,, Quick! Have a bake sale to raise the $3.500 to get it outta there!

@DEE GRONQUIST-PUFF: BLACK HISTORY, IS AMERICAN HISTORY, GET IT RIGHT!?!
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=378440905513073&id=100002400178895&comment_id=4857104#!/photo.php?fbid=321684874547371&set=a.147741158608411.26238.147453868637140&type=1&theater

African Americans have contributed a lot to this country, but if black history is American history, then so is white history. Please tell me when white history month is? Or when the next white business awards are or even the White American Male Achievement awards?

There is not a single race that has not had some great impacts on our nation. But the continued separation while claiming we are all equal only goes to further the gaps, not narrow them. It is as you say, black history is American history. So lets celebrate American history regardless of its color.

I am not trying to belittle you, but merely point out how I see it. Granted, I am just a white male. But if all these individual histories are all American history, then let's get rid of race specific history celebrations all together. So instead of black history month, we have American history month where the achievements of all Americans regardless of race are celebrated. Instead of the Topeka or Kansas black business awards we have the Topeka or Kansas Business awards where all businesses compete against each other regardless of the race of the owner.

Now, back to the topic at hand, I support the complete demolition of Constitution hall. Nothing really happened there. I would be more supportive of preserving individual houses that were on the underground railroad rather than this building where a document was signed. But that is just my view.